Before & After, Revised Edition: Living and Eating Well After Weight-Loss Surgery (Paperback)

by Susan Maria Leach (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

At 278 pounds, Susan Maria Leach couldn't lie in bed without gasping for air, wasn't able to fit into a restaurant booth, and could barely buckle the belt in an airplane seat. It would have been easier to allow life to pass her by than to continue fighting her weight problem, but she made the difficult decision to take back control. In 2001, Susan underwent gastric bypass surgery and started on a journey that would not only cut her body weight in half but would change her life.

Before & After is both a memoir and a cookbook—an intimate account of Leach's own transformation as well as a guide for those who have undergone or are considering the procedure. As Leach has learned in the six years since her operation, weight-loss surgery is not an event with a finish line or a goal weight—it is the beginning of a new way of life.

This edition of Before & After has been updated with all that Leach has learned on her post-op journey. It includes a foreword by Leach's surgeon, advice from a nutritionist, answers to more frequently asked questions about weight-loss surgery, a whole chapter on meal plans for different post-operative stages, suggested menus for early food stages, additional questions and answers affecting longer-term post-ops, and new information about products that have entered the marketplace.

Most notably, this edition showcases a wealth of new recipes that utilize the latest in light and healthy ingredients for smart and savory results, including everything from Asian Meatballs with Peanut Sauce and Turkey Tenderloin with Apple Chipotle Chutney to sugar-free Pistachio Gelato and Lemon Almond Sponge Cake. Each recipe makes about four servings, but includes a measured serving for WLS people along with a calorie/carb/fat/protein count. Leach has recipes for every step of the way, from tastes-like-the-real-thing milk shakes for those first post-op days to an entire Thanksgiving menu.

Before & After is a journal of Leach's own inspirational story, where she shares her ups and downs, her tips and techniques, but mostly it's a book of hope for anyone who has a serious weight problem.

About the Author

Susan Maria Leach maintains her new weight and devotes her time to motivating others to keep on track and sustain healthy patterns of diet and exercise not just for a short period after surgery but for life. She owns and operates BariatricEating.com and has opened her first nutrition store in Pompano Beach, Florida. Her company is a member of the corporate council of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Cookbooks; 1 Revised edition (June 26, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061242853
• ISBN-13: 978-0061242854
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #25,786 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #2 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Medical > Medicine > Surgery > Plastic
  #2 in	Books > Science > Medicine > Specialties > Surgery > Plastic & Cosmetic
  #18 in	Books > Science > Medicine > Special Topics > Nutrition

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Pre and Post RNY Surgery Book on the Market, June 27, 2007

By	Ellie49505 "Gramsto3" (Grand Rapids, MI) - See all my reviews

Just got my book in the mail today and I've not put it down. I am a post RNY surgery patient and I bought Ms. Leach's original book at the start of my journey almost 3 years ago. I bought several books on the surgery but found Ms. Leach's to be my bible. This book offers a soft cover which makes it easier to lay open on the counter when using her recipes (the book actually stays open to the page). You can't beat the price. The valuable information contained in the book is a must for anyone considering the surgery, recovering from the surgery or like me 3 years post op. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Before and After, revised edition: Susan Maria Leach, June 30, 2007

By	M "Marla" (Washington State) - See all my reviews

I read the orginal book in December of 2006 when I as starting to investigate if WLS was a solution for me. I found the book to answer so many questions and to teach what the facts are. Susan tells it how it is the good the bad and the ugly. But she is good at telling you that with good research if this is the choice you make your life of eating good food is not over. With surgery you have a second chance at health, kind of a rebirth. I love her attitude of nothing tastes as good as thin feels.

I have learned thru reading this latest book more info about after the surgery and I look forward to learning more on this journey. THis is a must for someone pre-op and a important part of success for the post op!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for anyone considering weight loss surgery, November 1, 2007

By	K. Lightfoot "book lover" (The great state of Texas) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As I was researching WLS this book was highly recommended to me and I am so glad I read it. It is very enlightening on the surgery but most of all it let's you peak into the daily life of a WLS person as they journey to get their weight off and most importantly keep it off. The main thing that I took from the book is that having WLS is definitely not the "easy way out" that most people think it is. You MUST change your eating habits as well as your relationship with food in order to be successful long term. The book helped me immensely with my decision as to have or not have WLS. In the end, since the same things must be changed in order to lose weight with or without the surgery, I decided to lose weight without the it and I am currently on that journey. This is not to say that everyone should make my choice but it is the right one for me and this book helped solidify that for me. Also, it is full of fabulous recipes that are tasty AND healthy.